Celebrating Ability!

This Thursday is International Day of People with Disability (3 December). It’s a day to celebrate the achievements, contributions and unique abilities of people with disability.

Afford is very proud to have a team of sensational supported employees who work in Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) across Sydney.

For the next 10 weeks, Afford’s Minchinbury, Prestons and Ingleburn ADEs will be busy with supported employees relabelling and repackaging thousands of Huggies Baby Wipes for delivery to supermarkets for customer purchase right across the country.

Product labelling requires precision and patience and this arduous task will be in capable the hands of hundreds of workers with disability across Western Sydney.

“Many of the products that we buy every week at the supermarket are relabelled and distributed by Australian workers living with disability. The unique abilities and talents of our supported employees enhance our operations and positively contribute to the Australian economy,” said Afford’s Executive Manager, Commercial Services, Gordon Griff.

“On-site training gives our supported employees the chance to develop their skills and move into leadership positions. We have employees who have worked with us for years and know the processes and procedures inside and out. After participating in training, they are now Team Leaders and role models for their peers,” said Mr Griff.

Watch: Lourdes becomes Team Leader

With the Coronavirus affecting the viability and operations of many disability providers in 2020, Afford responded quickly to adjust routines for COVID-19 safe work practices. Afford’s actions ensured continuity of employment for all its supported employees.

“While some other disability enterprises stopped operations, Afford updated the ways we work on the factory floor. We increased our health checks and educated our supported employees about COVID safe work practices so that we could continue to provide employment through the pandemic,” said Mr Griff.

“This meant that our supported employees could continue working, earn money and also have safe social interaction with their friends and workmates.”

Watch: Afford ADEs – COVID-safe workplaces.

“We are immensely proud to say that our supported employees have contributed to the production and delivery of many products that are found in retail stores and purchased by many Australians, across the country.”

In a whole-of-life approach to disability supports, Afford organises and hosts social events for supported employees which are held during work hours to foster work/life balance.

“Our employees are not just work mates, they are friends. At Afford we aim to provide supportive and encouraging workplaces where our supported employees can feel safe to be themselves and extend their friendships for fullness of life.”

Find out more about supported employment in an Afford ADE and enjoy meaningful work with friends and support.